The House of Prayer - Mark 11:17

Mark wrote how Jesus and His disciples came, “to Jerusalem: and Jesus went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves. And would not suffer that any man should carry any vessel through the temple”, and in chapter eleven and verse seventeen of his book, Mark shared how Jesus said, “My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer” where we read:

And he taught, saying unto them, Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer? but you have made it a den of thieves.

The verse reads, “And he taught, saying unto them, Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer?” Mark began with the words, “and he taught” which means “and Jesus instructed and gave didactic discourse”, “saying unto them” or “uttering, declaring and proclaiming to the people in the temple”, “Is it not written” which means “is it not delineated or formed with letters on a tablet parchment, paper or other material”, “My house” or “God's abode and habitation” “shall be called” which means “will be named and saluted” “of all nations” or “by each, every, the whole and everyone of the multitude of individuals who are of the same nature or genus” “the house of prayer” which means “the habitation and dwelling place of earnest oration and worship to God”? (See 1 Kings 8:41-48; Isaiah 56:7) Mark shared how Jesus questioned the merchants and those within the temple as to whether they knew “it was delineated on paper” that each and every “nation or genus” would know the “temple” as a place of “worship and oration” to God.

The verse continues, “but you have made it a den of thieves.” Mark added the words, “but you have made it” which means “however, nonetheless, notwithstanding, moreover and those who bought and sold in the temple kept, shown and brought the temple forth as” “a den of thieves” or “a cave, cavern, hiding-place or resort of robbers, plunderers, freebooters and brigands”. Mark shared how Jesus said those who “bought and sold” in the “temple” had turned it into a “cavern” for “robbers and plunderers”.

When we consider Mark's words in this verse, we see how Jesus really felt about what the “merchants” did to His “sacred place of worship”. Those who use the temple of the Most High God as a place to do business were greatly excoriated by Him. God's “sacred place” known as the temple was to be used for prayer and instead these people were buying and selling within it. Isaiah the prophet wrote, “Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people.” (See Isaiah 56:7) God desires a pure loving relationship with all people through His Son Jesus, and those who know the proper use of His “temple” shall come to Him, worship Him and pour out their gratitude and prayers to Him who alone is worthy to be praised.

Next time Mark shares how, “the scribes and chief priests heard it, and sought how they might destroy him” , so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".